Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) has forwarded correspondence to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to encourage efforts to reopen the U.S. northern border.
Stefanik seeks the unilateral easing of non-essential travel restrictions across the northern border if a bilateral reopening plan is not established before restrictions expire on June 21, 2021.
Stefanik noted unilateral action to begin reopening the border appears necessary.
“A coordinated, bilateral approach to reopening the border remains preferable, but we should be under no illusion that the current restrictions are either fully synchronized or equitable for U.S. citizens,” Stefanik wrote. “Canadians have been permitted to fly into the U.S. throughout the pandemic while Americans remain unable to fly into Canada for non-essential travel. Canadians have been able to receive a vaccine when in the U.S. while fully vaccinated Americans are unable even to quarantine on their own properties in Canada, many of which have gone unattended for well over a year.”
Stefanik recently issued a statement in addition to the letter, reaffirming her stance on reopening the northern border.
“As Co-Chair of the Northern Border Caucus, I have worked with my colleagues across the aisle, our Canadian counterparts, the North Country Chamber of Commerce, and essentially anyone who will listen over the past several months to establish a bilateral, metrics-based plan to reopen the northern border,” Stefanik noted. “But the Canadian Government continues to lack the urgency this situation demands. Enough is enough – the United States needs to do what’s best for the American people and small businesses and reopen the northern border.”